RCMP touts task force approach to violent crime

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This article was published 30/07/2023 (289 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The RCMP is working to assuage public concerns in the wake of a Statistics Canada report revealing Manitoba experienced an increase in crime severity last year — significantly higher than the national average.

The data, released last week, shows Manitoba was up 14 per cent on the Crime Severity Index, which measures changes in the level of severity of crime from year to year. The index rose four per cent across the country.

“When someone sees that number — 14 per cent — that is startling for sure. What we would say, as the police force of jurisdiction in much of Manitoba, is that we are on it,” said RCMP Manitoba media relations officer Tara Seel.

An increase in the number of homicides, firearm offences and violent assaults contributed to the rise in Manitoba.

Mounties have adopted an “intelligence-led” approach to policing, which is helping address such crimes in rural communities, Seel said, pointing to the strategic enforcement response team, unveiled last August by Manitoba RCMP, as an example.

The task force relies on detachment-level officers to gather data on crime and offenders in their areas. RCMP analysts then use the data to help secure search warrants, connect provincial or interprovincial criminal networks and co-ordinate multi-jurisdictional operations, Seel said.

Co-operation from local community members and officials is integral to the intelligence-led approach, Seel said.

“We all live in a village. If people see crime or know of people engaging in crime, then they need to reach out too. We can’t be everywhere and do all things at all times,”– RCMP Manitoba media relations officer Tara Seel

“We all live in a village. If people see crime or know of people engaging in crime, then they need to reach out too. We can’t be everywhere and do all things at all times,” Seel said.

“A lot of the violent crime we are seeing… it’s not often random. It’s linked to individuals who are known to police — who have extensive criminal backgrounds.”

The Winnipeg Police Service announced a similar task force last year, calling it the integrated violent offender apprehension unit.

The unit deployed for the first time in May, the unit arrested 21 people by the end of that month — 15 of which were on bail, probation or parole.

Seel credited the provincial government for providing financial support to create these units and other police and community safety initiatives.

Since Jan. 1,the province has committed at least $38 million to such efforts, including funding the creation of child abuse and missing person response teams; upgrading police equipment; providing municipalities with money for police service budgets; and financing the creation of a crime gun lab.

The 2023 provincial budget includes a total of $52 million toward addressing violent crime.

Additionally, provincial officials have worked to introduce federal bail reform legislation, and legislation which would expand the authority of safety officers in the province.

Seel would not comment on whether bail reform was a necessary measure to reduce violent crime.

“We enforce the laws as they are written and once we have enforced those laws, it goes into the courts and justice process and that is beyond us,”– RCMP Manitoba media relations officer Tara Seel

“For (RCMP) to weigh in on that is not completely appropriate,” Seel said. “We enforce the laws as they are written and once we have enforced those laws, it goes into the courts and justice process and that is beyond us.”

The RCMP spokeswoman did agree, however, that many violent criminals arrested in Manitoba are either repeat offenders, out on bail or known to police.

“It’s no secret, you can see it from our press releases… we are often arresting the same people over and over again,” she said.

“It’s our reality.”

Despite the investments, there is still a need for additional human resources to address the RCMP’s vacancy rate, which sat at 6 per cent — or roughly 60 positions — in 2022, Seel said, adding a deficit in new recruits was brought on, in part, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are hiring,” she said. “If you’re startled and you’re concerned and you want to make your community safer, call us.”

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca